HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcho FieldsDec. 20, 2019
APPLICATION FOR APPOINTMENT TO CITY COMMISSION/COMMITTEE
Please type or print answers to the following questions and submit to the City Recorder at City Hall, 20 E Main Street, or
email meiissa.huhtala@ashland.or.us. If you have any questions, pleasefeel free to contact the City Recorder at 488-
5307. Attach additional sheets if necessary.
Name Echo E. Fields
Requesting to serve on:'Housing and Human Services Commission (Commission/Committee)
fl see that the City website doesn't list an open position but Rich Rohde, Commission Chair, told me in personal
conversation that there is in fact a vacancy and encouraged me to go ahead and submit this application now]
Mailing Address 367 Glenn St. Ashland OR 97520
Physical Address same as above
Occupation. retired SOU sociology professor Phone: Cell 541 821 5879 Home 541 488 3502
Work n/a
Email fieldse@sou.edu
Fax none
1. Education Background
What schools have you attended? Oklahoma City University; University of Oregon
What degrees do you hold? Bachelor of Arts, Sociology, Oklahoma City University (1975). Ph.D. Sociology,
University of Oregon (1984)
What additional training or education have you had that would apply to this position? Participant in the
Neighborhood Leadership Academy, City of Medford, (2006)
I have attended a few meetings of the Commission in recent months and have been reading material posted
on the City's website so that I could be sure that I would have something positive to contribute. I recently
attended the Commission's December 17th retreat to discuss the group's goals for the coming year, for
example. Full disclosure: I am personally acquainted with several members.
2. Related Experience
What prior work experience haveyou had that would help you if you were appointed to this position?
20+ years as a professor/ degree coordinator for SOU's Human Service major and sociology program. I
regularly taught classes in social welfare policy, in organizational sociology with a focus on non-profit and
public sector organizations as well as classes on community development and revitalization. I have kept
current in the research literature in those areas as well as how that research is applied in communities. I have
been a department chair at SOU and served/chaired major University committees.
I know how hard it can be to get by in Ashland: As an academic advisor at SOU, my "case load" included
students of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds and gender identities. I have worked with students who
were connected to the VA in White City, older adult students, traditional aged students, students with -
significant mental health challenges, who were neuro-atypical, experiencing housing/health
care/food/transportation insecurity, in recovery from addictions, etc.
I also have been an officer in my small planned unit development's home owners' association since 2007 (15
units, annual revenues of $35K). I own my unit in what is an example of affordable, multi -family
development. I facilitated updating CC&Rs to bring them into conformity with state law, developing a long-
term maintenance plan, dealt with homeowner needs & conflicts. I also coordinate and do oversight for major
maintenance projects. I chair our Association meetings and make sure that we are operating in compliance
with state and federal law. As a result, I understand the needs of property management companies, of unit
owners, both in -residence and investment property owners, as well as the needs of tenants renting those
units.
Dec. 20, 2019
Do you feel it would be advantageous for you to have further training in this field, such as attending conferences or
seminars? Why?
I have time to visit other communities, can afford to attend conferences, go to the state capitol, etc.
Connecting with other communities on how they are responding to the issues the Housing & Human Services
Commission would of course be helpful: there are many approaches to dealing with affordable housing/lack of
housing, mental health services, strategies for funding social services, etc. Learning from other communities'
experiences is incredibly helpful. Having taught classes on these issues, I keep up with new scholarly research
and track current press coverage of changes in state and federal regulations and policies as well as community
initiatives and activism.
3.Interests
Why are you applying forthis position? I believe I can make a positive contribution to attaining the goals of the
Commission and I am committed to helping Ashland become the best community it can be. I have time now
to be of some use.
The housing issues in our town are personal for me. People I know well experience bouts of living outside or
being in marginal, unsuitable housing. For several months this past year, I provided shelter in my home to a
person I'd known for years who had a job in Ashland, but couldn't afford any kind of stable housing. He was
also dealing with a family member with significant mental health and addictions issues. I know that no small
number of us who are fortunate to have housing try to help one-on-one if we can, but personal approaches
aren't sufficient.
Professionally, I have both academic and applied experience with the issues the Commission deals with. I
have extensive expertise in relevant academic literature from various disciplines; I have served on several
advisory boards over the years, including recently the RCC Human Service Advisory Board. Because I often
supervised students' internships, I have been personally acquainted with many staff/leaders in our local non-
profit social service sector that comprise our local "safety net;" some now are my former students. As long-
time SOU faculty member, I can help to foster the relationship between the City and the University.
4. Availability
Are you available to attend special meetings, in addition to the regularly scheduled meetings? Do you prefer day or
evening meetings?
Yes. I can attend meetings in both afternoons and evenings. I can also be available on weekends.
5. Additional Information
How long have you lived in this community? 26 years .
Please use the space below to summarize any additional qualifications you have for this position
I have advanced written and oral communication skills, honed in years of teaching and being an
academic department chairperson. I have basic social science research design skills: i.e. how to design and
implement surveys and do simple statistical/descriptive analysis in forms that laypersons will understand. I
know how to handle the practical details of doing workshops, chairing committee meetings & keeping
members on -task, running focus groups, facilitating discussions, organizing formal panel presentations, and
event planning/logistics in general.
I am reasonably adept at using social media platforms, and support using digital media/social media for
successful outreach and public relations now. Having taught young adults for decades, I understand that they
access information in ways that older adults do not.
Date December 20, 2019 Signature